JOSH Butcher made a significant contribution as Ellingham & Ringwood registered a 41-12 bonus point victory over Hampshire One rivals Sandown & Shanklin.
Wing three-quarter Butcher chipped in with a try, a penalty and four conversions as the hosts sunk the Islanders at the Raymond Brown Memorial Ground.
The teams had started the day level on points in fourth and fifth, respectively, and this was reflected by the first 20 minutes when they cancelling each other out.
Butcher eventually opened the scoring with a penalty following a sustained spell of pressure which paved the way for Ellingham to establish a 20-0 lead at the break.
Tries from number eight Stuart Pearce, lock forward Tim Linford and Butcher, who also kicked a conversion, saw them reach the interval in the ascendancy.
Ellingham started the second half well with further tries from centre Callum Butler and full-back Dominic Pitt – both converted by Butcher – seeing them forge 34-0 ahead.
However, the Islanders hit back with two tries and a conversion to reduce the deficit to 34-12 before Ellingham regained control and closed out an important bonus point win thanks to Chris Frost’s try, again converted by Butcher.
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